Your Political Definitions

[Rani]

In political discussion threads we love to throw around those words intended to define and label. Republican! Democrat! Conservative! Liberal! Moderate, Libertarian, Independent......... The list is endless.

Scotsman brought up a rather brilliant observation (yes, Scotsman) some time back in another thread. He mentioned that there hasn't been any real conservative in office in decades. That's a very valid point because not only politicians but certain entertainers and heads of organizations/religions like to adopt those labels in order to align themselves with where they think money and/or votes will come from to support their personal agendas. So let's define what those labels mean to us because maybe we're on the same page a lot more than we think we are. Novel idea, huh?

'Rani

[ryno]

Conservative! Liberal! Moderate, Libertarian, Independent.. Thats what I am. My views vary from topic to topic, and don't really care nor believe in political parties.

[Rani]

[quote name='ryno' date='04 February 2010 - 09:28 AM' timestamp='1265304483' post='449690']
Conservative! Liberal! Moderate, Libertarian, Independent.. Thats what I am. My views vary from topic to topic, and don't really care nor believe in political parties.
[/quote]

Uhhhh, you missed what I was asking. I'm not looking for people to classify themselves but to state what they believe a conservative is, a liberal is, etc.

'Rani

[Venger]

[quote name='Rani' date='04 February 2010 - 01:10 PM' timestamp='1265307052' post='449701']
[quote name='ryno' date='04 February 2010 - 09:28 AM' timestamp='1265304483' post='449690']
Conservative! Liberal! Moderate, Libertarian, Independent.. Thats what I am. My views vary from topic to topic, and don't really care nor believe in political parties.
[/quote]

Uhhhh, you missed what I was asking. I'm not looking for people to classify themselves but to state what they believe a conservative is, a liberal is, etc.

'Rani
[/quote]
well the meanings have been blurred over the years but here goes
Republicans tend to be conservative both fiscally and socially. Pro-life,religion, and gun. they used to be small government pro capitolism but lately that message has been lost.
democrats tend to be socially liberal and since social programs cost money they tend to be pro big government and fiscally liberal as well.
conservative is to take things slow and have them well thought out. Do we need this and what is the cost.
liberal see a needs and fix it regardless of cost. urgent need to fix a social wrong even if it could be reckless and some people will have to sacrifice its better for the greater good as they see it.
moderate is a little from column A and b they look at both side weigh it out and try to find a happy medium.
an independent is a moderate but with an agenda like going green or pro life or what ever your cause.
finally a libertarian (which is what I am ) is socially liberal while being fiscally conservative. For example we don't need a feel time government collecting high taxes to pay for someone not willing to work and having 4 babies with 4 different baby daddies. However is she want 4 kids and can get the daddies to pay for them that is her right. Government power should not exceed that of the people as stated in the constitution. Another example if you want to use NHT I don't care if you are in your home not neglecting your kids but as soon as you get behind the wheel or rob me for money to support your habit now we have a problem that will need to be dealt with.
I ramble but this is what I think these words mean.
Ray

[Venger]

I guess everyone agrees with these definitions or more likely no one really cares what I think.

[TheScotsman]

[quote name='Venger' date='16 February 2010 - 02:33 PM' timestamp='1266352414' post='451792']
I guess everyone agrees with these definitions or more likely no one really cares what I think.
[/quote]

As luck would have it, after I typed away for the better part of a half hour, took one look, thought I needed to trim my post size a bit....

MP&L (Mn Power and Light) decided to do the editing for me... and the power went out.

[thatonethere]

I like Ray's answer.
+1 on the welfare issue. In fact, I think that should be another thread. I'm off to go make one.

[Lorena F. Palin]

I never really understood how all these values got lumped together. I don't think either the democrats or the republicans are all that philosophical in how they set there values. Dems want more government telling you what type of car to drive, telling you you can have a gun, telling you you can't smoke, etc... Republicans want more government telling you how/who you can have sex with, what you can say about your country, watching you without your permission, telling you what you can't do with your body, etc...Libertarians are a little bit more philosophical, but it's silly to think that large corporations in a free market won't also screw you over just like the government (because they aren't really checked by anything).

Personally, I fall into the somewhere between anarchist, capitalist, and "Don't give a F@#$" categories. I honestly think the gov has no buisness telling anyone what they can and can't do with their bodies or property, aside from a few very dangerous things (no making large bombs, no making deadly poisons at home). Other than that, drugs, cars without airbags (I mean motorcycles are legal), guns, porn, prostitution, abortion, flavored cigarettes, unpasteurized cheese, fugu- all should be perfectly legal for adults given a proper warning. And cheeseburgers need surgeon generals warnings too, those things probably cause more death and damage to our nations citizens then all of those things mentioned above combined.